Nairobi, Feb. 22 -- When former colleagues and students at Kenyatta University recently did a party to celebrate the 80th birthday of Prof Austin Bukenya, one thing he highlighted was his feminist credentials.

This declaration brings up a question one often hears: Can men be feminists?

Often asked by inchoate women's rights activists, this question is inlaid with scepticism and even suspicion that men engaged in gender equality work are opportunists competing for donor funds and are not sincere in their feminism.

Also read: The rise and rise of African feminists' movements

The latter notion is referred to as performativity. Thus a notion has emerged that men in feminist work should be "accountable" to women. This is territorial protec...